Fourth quarter surge pushes top-ranked Lady Texans past Howard 58-48 Thursday

BIG SPRING — Reigning National Player of the Week Gabbie Green poured in 17 points and dished out three assists as the top-ranked Lady Texans extended their win streak to 22 games on Thursday, bouncing Howard College 58-48 at Dorothy Garrett Coliseum.

Trailing 45-44 after three quarters, South Plains outscored the Lady Hawks 15-3 in the final stint as Keke Hunter and Green combined for 10 points in the fourth quarter to cap the conference road win as the Lady Texans improved to 25-1 on the season and 10-0 in the WJCAC.

Green would finish 6-for-17 from the floor over 40 minutes while Ruth Koang poured in 14 points and grabbed nine boards for the Lady Texans. Hunter tallied six points and six rebounds coming off the bench for South Plains while Caroline Germond recorded six points and four steals.

Despite finishing 1 of 10 from the 3-point line, South Plains shot 44.6 percent from the floor and scored 16 points off 14 forced turnovers. Howard had no answer for the Lady Texans inside as South Plains netted 46 points inside the paint and scored 16 points on second-chance opportunities.  

Howard shot 35 percent from the floor and were 8 of 27 from the perimeter as Makayla Thomas led the Lady Hawks with 17 points and six rebounds. Corbyn Cunningham recorded eight points and 10 points for Howard while Quanasia McDaniel chipped in seven and Addyson Moseley netted six points and three boards.

South Plains will be off on Monday before returning to the hardwood on Feb. 14 in Hobbs against New Mexico Junior College at 5:45 p.m. MST.